Device for recording dips in formation of well bores



Jan. 19, 1932. R. B. CULBERTSON DEVICE FOR RECORDING DIPS IN FORMATIONOF WELL BORES Filed Nov. 23, 1929 Federated fi M332 RICHARD IB.CULBERTSON, DE LOS MTG-BEES, CALIEUENLQ.

BET/KGB F0183 RECGEDENG' DIES IN FORMATION OF WELL BURKS Applicationfiled November 23, 1929. Serial No. 409,279.

This invention relates to a device for use in a well and relates moreparticularly to a device for indicating or determining the direction ofthe dip in the strata or formation of a well bore.

This application is filed as a continuation in part of and insubstitution for my application entitled Formation dip register, filedJuly 27, 1925, Serial Number 46,361.

it is a general object of the invention to provide a practical andeffective device for determining the direction of the dip in theformation of a well bore.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device of the charactermentioned that does not embody any clock works or delicate mechanismssubject to becoming mudded up or inoperative.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device of thecharacter mentioned that is operable to record the direction of the dipin the formation at the time the core is taken, or immediately before orafter the core is taken.

it is a further object of the invention provided .by' the device of thecharacter mentioned in which the indicating or recording mechanism isunder ntrol of an operator at the surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the charactermentioned in which the direction indicating mechanism does not have tobe positioned, adjusted, or set before the device is lowered into thewell and is not rendered inoperative or inaccurate by rotation of thedrilling string such as usually occurs during lowering of the drillingstring into the hole.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of thecharacter mentioned in which the recording or direction indicating meansis set by fluid pressure means and more particularly by fluid pressureimparted to the circulation fluid in the drilling string which may becontrolled at the surface.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of thecharacter mentioned that embodies but few parts and is simple andinexpensive of manufacture.

Other objects and features of my invention will be best and more fullyunderstood from the following detailed description of a typical form andapplication of the invention,, throughout which description reference ishad to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view of a typical well bore illustrating the device providedby this invention in operative position therein. Fig. 2 is an enlargedvertical detailed sectional View of the device provided by thisinvention. Fig. 639

3 is an enlarged detailed view of the direction indicating portionof'the device, being a view taken substantialy as indicated by line 8-3on Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged view taken substantially as indicatedby line 4-4 on Fig. 35

3. Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical detailed sectional view of thedirection indicating means removed from the other parts of the device.Fig. 6 is an enlarged side elevation taken substantially as indicated byline 6-6 7 on Fig. 5.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings 1 have illustrated a typical well bore andhave shown a drilling :string 10 extending into the bore. A swivel 11 isshown at the upper end of the drilling engaging core barrel or coretaker 13, a

plunger or piston 14 slidably carried within the body 12 and operabledownwardly in the body upon pressure being applied to the fluid in thedrilling string 10, a direction indicating device 15 carried by thepiston 14;, and means 16 for setting or holding the indicating device 15against operation upon the piston 14 being operated.

The body 12 is provided to carry the various other parts of the deviceand may be mounted on-or attached to any common or usual part of adrilling string, such as a section of drill pipe. a tool joint section,sub. etc. The body is preferably formed of brass, aluminum, or othersuitable non-magnetic maingmeans 15 and the means 16 terial. The body 12is larger in diameter than the sub 17 and has a central longitudinalopening 18, eXtending into it from its upper end. The outer or upperportion of the opening 18 is screw-threaded to receive the lower endportion of the sub 17. The lower or inner portion 19 of the opening maybe slightly reduced in diameter and is in the form of a cylinder tocarry the piston 14. The cylinder 19 is preferably comparatively longand is larger in diameter than the interior of the sub 17 so that thelower end of the sub forms a downwardly facing stop shoulder 20 for thepiston 14. The lower end of the body 12 is .provided with a screwthreaded socket 21.

The core taker 13 is provided to take a core or sample of the formationat the bottom of the bore and is adapted to be forced downwardly intothe formation. The core taker 13 is mounted at the lower end of thestring 10 and in the particular case illustrated, is directly connectedwith the body 12. The core taker 13 is an elongated tubular part and itsupper end is screw threaded into the socket 21. The lower end portion ofthe exterior of the core taker is tapered inwardly and downwardly, andthe lower end portion of the opening 22 of the core taker may be tapereddownwardly and outwardly. Suitable means may be provided in the opening22 for retaining a core or sample of the formation. A plurality ofcircumferentially extending serrations or teeth 22 may be provided inthe lower portion of the opening. The teeth 22 have upwardly andinwardly extending lower sides to allow the core to freely enter theopening, and may be pro vided with sharp upwardly extending edges toprevent the core from becoming displaced from the opening 22. inaccordance with the invention, means is provided for preventing the corefrom rotating or turning within the opening 22. I have shown a pluralityof longitudinally extendin. projections or gpiines 24 on the walls of Ioper I. iuid passage or opening 25 n y b in the upper portion of theco-e ta through the lower portion or the body to allow the fluid withinthe opening 22 to be displaced and discharged the well bore when thecore enters the open The piston is carries the direction indicatablevertically in the c ton 14 is preferably cor long and fits the cylinder1 so tl considerable force or pressure to the cylinder. Rings ma novided on the piston to frictional the cylinder. The vented fromsnifting in with a downwardly extending socket or opening 27. Means isprovided for preventing the piston 14 from rotating in the cylinder. Ihave shown a plurality of upwardly extending projections 28 on thebottom of the cylinder 19 fitting openings 29 in the lower portion ofthe piston. In practice, the projections 28 may be in the form of guidepins and are preferably long enough so that their upper ends extend intothe openings 29 when the piston 14: is in the up or unactuated position.

The piston 14 is normally positioned in the cylinder 19 to prevent thepassage or discharge of fluid from the lower end of the drill pipe 10.The invention provides means for admitting fluid from the well bore intothe lower portion of the cylinder 19 under the piston so that it can bedisplaced or discharged from the cylinder upon the piston being moveddownwardly, and provides means whereby fluid is allowed to freelycirculate downwardly from the lower end of the drilling string 10 afterthe piston 14 has been operated downwardly. An opening or fluid passage30 is provided laterally through the walls of the body 12 tocolmnunicate with the lower end of the cylinder 19. The opening 30 isprovided to allow the fluid normally in the bottom or lower portion ofthe cylinder 19 to be discharged into the well bore upon the piston 14being operated downwardly. The opening 30 also allows the pressure headof fluid in the well bore to act on the lower side of the piston. "Whenthe drilling string is being lowered into the well bore and beforepressure is applied to the fluid in the string, the pressure in the wellbore is greater than that in the drill pipe and holds the piston in theup position. A plurality of lateral openings or fluid passages 31 areprovided in the body and communicate with the upper portion of thecylinder 19.

passages 31 are nornia ly closed by the when it is in the tin-actuatedposihe piston 1 iis moved downward to the actuated position, thepassages 31 are uncovered. and the fluid within the drilling string 19is allowed to circulate into the well b in accordance with theinvention, means may be provided tending to equalize the pressures inthe well bore and the drlling string it) the device is lowered into thechecl: valve 32 is provided to allow the drilling string upon the thewell bore becoming greater sure in the drilling string. in

"lve 32 controls the passage *1 opening 33 though the the well and untilheld against operation by the means 16 when the piston 14 is depressed.The means 15 may include a magnetic needle 34 pivotally mounted on a pin35 carried within a case 36 in the opening 27 of the piston. The case 36is horizontally arranged in the lower end of the opening 27 and may beclamped in position by removable plugs 37 and 38 screw threaded into theupper portion of the opening. The plug 38 is arranged to engage theupper side of the case 36 and clamp it against the bottom of the opening27. The case may include a cylindrical shell 39 and a top 40 oftransparent material and a bottom 41. It is preferred that the case 36be positively held against rotation. I have shown a set screw 42 screwthreaded into an opening in the piston and engaging the shell 39.

The pin 35 projects upwardly from the center of the bottom 41 of thecase and is provided at its upper end with a sharpened point. The needle34 may be provided at its center with a hub having a tapered socket intowhich the pointed end of the pin 35 extends. The plugs 37 and 38 act toprevent fluid from entering the case 36 and the set screw 42 may be setor fitted in the opening so as to prevent fluid from passing through theopening into the case or theopening 27.

The means 16 for setting the indicating device, or the needle 34. inposition to record the direction of the dip of the core taken within thecore taker 13, operates to set the needle 34 against operation ormovement when the piston 14 is operated downwardly in the cylinder. Theoperation of the means 16 is controlled by an operator at the surfacewho applies pressure to the iiuid within the drilling string 10. Themeans 16 includes a lever arranged within the case 36 and operableto-engage the needle 34, and a rod 51 which engages the bottom of thecylinder 13 and is shifted upward relative to the piston 14 when thepiston is moved downward, and

" 35. The arm 53 exte a cam connection between the lever 50 and the rod51. The lever 50 consists of two angularly related arms 52 and 53. Thearms 52 and 53 extend upwardly and outwardly in opposite directions froma fulcrum or pivot point. The lever 50 is arranged within the case torock or pivot about the po the arms 52 and 53 join. The is the innerarm, is provided at 1 with an opening 54 i i wardly to a point ad 39 ofthe case. The ranged in vertical o 14. The rod 51 is c normally piston14 o os e opening. The upper end or the rod 51 is made flat and isprovided with an obliquely extending cam opening 57.

The connection between the rod 51 and the lever 50 operates to impartdownward movement to the outer end of the arm 53 upon the rod 51 beingshifted upward relative to'the piston. A member 58 is slidably'arrangedagainst the inner side of the shell 39 of the case. The member 58 iscurved to conform to the curvature of the shell 39 so as to be readilyoperated along the shell. The member 58 is provided with an outwardlyextendin pin 60 which projects through an elongate slot 61 in the shell39 and extends into the cam opening 57 of the rod 51. An enlargement orhead 61 may be provided on the pin 60 to retain the pin within the camopening 57. The member 58, is provided with an inclined cam slot 62which receives the outer end of arm 53 and operates to move the armvertically upon the member 58 being moved horizontally by thecooperation of the pin 60 and the opening 57.

With the construction just described, upward movement of the rod 51causes horizontal or circumferential movement of the member 58 due tothe cooperation of the pin 60 with the cam opening 57, and the end ofthe arm 53 cooperates with the cam slot 62 to shift the end of the arm53 downwardly.

Upon downward movement of the arm 53 the arm 52 is moved upward andengages the needle 34 to force is against the top 40 of the case.

in accordance with my invention, the parts related to the magneticneedle so that they would influence-the action of the needle are made ofnon-magnetic material. In practice the device may be effectuallyseparated magnetically from the drill pipe by using a suitable sub 17 ofnon-magnetic material.

In operating the device provided by this invention, the drilling string10 is lowered within the well bore, which is usually filled withcirculation fluid, until the core taker engages or strikes the bottom ofthe bore. the inoperative position, the piston 14 is in the upperportion of the cylinder 19, as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings,and the compass needle 34 is free to pivot on the pin The drillingstring 10 carries circulation fluid, fluid having entered it from thebore through the check valve 32. it is preferred that the drillingstring 10 be held against roi a 'on when it is run into well bore, but lthe event that the drilling string 10 be irned or rotated, the nee le 14is free to roand return to its normal position. lVhen but v2 is desiredto operate the device, the weight or the drilling string 10 is releasedto force the core tak r 13 into the formation at the bottom 1 e well.The means 16 be iediately rely .ltaneously i the core taker into theformation, To open ,ate the means 16, increased pressure 15 applied tothe fluid Within the drilling string and the piston 14 is shifteddownwardly in the cylinder. If the drilling string is not full of fluid,the necessary fluid may be pumped into it and When it is full of Fluidany desired pressure can be put upon the fluid. Upon downward movementof the piston, the rod 51 is forced upward relative to the piston andthe member 58 is rotated or shifted horizontally as above described.

With this movement of the member 58, the outer end of the lever arm 53is operated downwardly and the arm 52 is shifted upward and forces thecompass needle 53 against the cover 40. The member 58 and lever avillremain in this position so that the needle is set and its position thetime of operation of the device determined when the device is removedfrom the Well and the plugs 37 and 38 are rcmovec. Notation of theretative position of the core taken with reference to the body (andtherefore the compass) relates "the direction of the inclination of thestrata and the pitch of the strata. lhe direction of the core taken bythe core taker i3 is indicated and recorded by the needle "While thepitch or inclination of he core can be determined by the manner in whichit is held in the core taker.

Having descriloed only a oical, pre ferred form of n nvention, L c notWish to limit myself LO tne specific d but Wish to reserve myself 7changes or variations that may appear o skilled in the art or fallwithin the seepv of the folloWing claims:

Having described my i -on, I claim:

1. A device of the character described including, a body acap d to becarried by an operatin string in v l bore, core taker at the lower endoi be body, piston slidable in. the body, a co needle pivotall mountedin the pist d means operable by movement the needle against movement.

2. A device out eluding, a body ad operating string i s set forth,

at the lower on of l.

needle, and fluid. e

operable to set the nerdle against movement, said means includ a pistonbody and encasi 3. A device eluding, a body ads operating string 1ncylinder opening cor operating string, a i of the body, a piston. slidopening, a nragneti ed in the piston, needle set s ton opei seem 9o 4. Adevice of the character described including, a body adapted to beattached to an operating string in a Well bore and having acylinderopening communicating with the operating string, a core taker at thelower cnd of the body, a piston slidable in the cylinder opening, amagnetic needle pivotally mounted in the piston, and means whereby theneedle is set against movement upon the piston being operated in thecylinder, said means including a part slidably carried by the piston andnormally projecting from the piston.

5. A device of the character described ineluding, a body adapted to beattached to an (operating string in a Well here and having a cylinderopening communicating with the operating string, a core taker at thelower end oi": the body, a piston slidablc in the cylinder opening, acompass needle pivotally mounted in the piston, and means whereby theneedle is set against movement upon the piston being operated in thecylinder, said means including a part slidably carried by the piston andnormally projecting from the piston, a lever adapted to engage theneedle, and a connection between the said part and lever.

6. A device of the character described including, a body adapted to beattached to an operating string in a Well bore and having a cylinderopening communicating with the operating string, a core taker at thelower end of the body, piston slidable in the cylinder opening, acompass needle pivotally mounted in the piston, and Vans whereby theneedle is against i upon the piston bennder, said means incarried by thepiston from the piston, a e the needle, and a cam .ic part and lover.

' c aracter described in to be attached to an bore and having a eatingwith the opcluding and norm lever ad n slidable in the cylinder i eedlepivotally mounted sans whereby the needle upon the piston being "ed der,said means including, a re r ied by the piston om the piston, a

and normall needle, a member lever adapts operable by -nd a camconnection between the lever and the member.

device the character described in body adapted to be connected withoperating string in a well bore and a cylinder opening communicating thestring and having a all the interior {)3 the cylinder opening in comnWith the well bore, a core taker y the body, direction-indiesting means,a piston in the cylinder opening, means releasably holding the pistonagainst movement in a position where it closes the operating string andthe said port, the piston being operable downwardly by fluid underpressure to uncover the port whereby the' port puts the interior of theoperating string in communication with the well bore, and means operableby downward movement of the piston to set the direction-indicating meansin indicating position.

9. A device of the character described including, a body adapted to beattached to an operating string in a well bore and having a cylinder opening communicating with the operating string, a core taker at thelower end of the body, a piston in the opening and operable by fluidpressure delivered by the operating string, one end of the cylinderopening being in communication with the well bore, means for equalizingthe pressures of the fluids in the operating string. and well bore uponthe pressure in the well bore becoming greater than'the pressure in theoperating string, direction indicating means, and

means for setting the indicating means. upon the piston being actuated.

10. A device of the character described including, a body adapted .to becarried by an operating string in a well bore, a core taker at the lowerend of the body, a compass needle, and fluid pressure actuated meansoperable to set the needle against movement, said means including, apiston enca'sing the needle and slidable in the body, and meansholdingthe piston against rotation.

11. A device of the characterdescribed including, abody adapted to becarried by an operating string in a well bore and having a cylinderopening communicating 'with the operating string, a core taker at thelower end of the body, a piston in the opening and operable by fluidpressure delivered by the operating string, the piston normallypreventing the discharge of fluid from the operating string, directionindicating means, and means operable by movement of the piston forsetting the indicating means. I

12. A device of the characterdescribed including, a body adapted to beattached to an operating string in a well bore and having a cylinderopening communicating with the operating string, a core taker at thelower end of the body, a piston in the opening and operable by fluidpressure delivered by the operating string, the pistonnormallypreventing the discharge of fluid from the operating string,direction indicating means,

- means operable upon movement of the piston to set the directionindicating means and means whereby operation of the piston allows thedischarge of fluid from the operatmg string.

13. A device of the character described including, a bodyadapted to beattached to an operating string in a well bore, the body being formed ofa non-magnetic material, a nonmagnetic core taker at the lower end ofthe body, a pivotally. mounted magnetic needle,

and fluid pressure actuated means for setting the needle againstmovement, including a piston of non-magnetic material in the bodystring, the lower end of the cylinder opening being in communicationwith the well bore, means for equalizing the pressures in the operatingstring and well bore upon the pressure in well bore becoming greaterthan the pressure in the operating string, direction indicating means,and means operable by the piston for setting the indicating means.

15. A device of the character described including, a body adapted to bemounted on the lower end of a tubular operating string for use in a wellbore, the body having a cylinder opening communicating with the interiorof the operating string, a normally free pivotally mounted compassneedle, a piston in the cylinder opening normallyclosing the lower endof the operating string operable by fluid pressure in the operatingstring and means actuated by the piston for setting the needle againstmovement.

16. A device of the character described including, a body adapted to becarried by a tubular operating string in a well bore, a core takercarried by the body, a pivotally mounted magnetic needle carried by thebody, and fluid pressure actuated means for setting the needle againstmovement including a pis-. ton operable in the body and normally closmgthe lower end, of the operating string, the piston being operabledownwardly by fluid pressure in the operating string, and means forsetting the needle against movement upon downward movement of thepiston.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my namethis 5th day of November, 1929.

RICHARD B. CULBERTSON.

